PM Surya Ghar for Housing Societies (RWA/GHS):
Subsidy, Eligibility and How to Apply (2026)

1. Registered Group Housing Societies (GHS) and RWAs get ₹18,000 per kW for rooftop solar that powers common facilities, including EV charging.
2. Eligible capacity is 3 kW per house, up to 500 kW per society. Solar already installed by individual residents counts towards this limit.
3. Maximum central subsidy is ₹90 lakh (about ₹99 lakh in special-category states).
4. The society applies on pmsuryaghar.gov.in, uses DCR modules and a registered vendor, and the subsidy is credited to the society's bank account.
5. The scheme's current timeline runs to 31 March 2027; no extension has been notified as of October 2026.

PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is the central government's rooftop solar scheme, launched in February 2024 with an outlay of ₹75,021 crore and a target of 1 crore households. Most people know it for the up-to-₹78,000 subsidy for independent homes. Less known is that the scheme also supports Group Housing Societies and Resident Welfare Associations.

For societies, the subsidy is for solar that runs common facilities: lifts, water pumps, corridor and street lighting, clubhouses and EV charging points. These loads usually sit on one common-area electricity connection in the society's name, and they are often the single largest item in the maintenance budget.

*North-Eastern states, hill states and island UTs get about 10% higher central assistance. Some states add their own top-up; check with your state nodal agency.

Calculated at ₹18,000/kW (general) and ₹19,800/kW (special category) as per MNRE guidelines.

How much capacity qualifies. The 500 kW figure is a ceiling, not a fixed allowance. Your society's eligible capacity is:

A 120-flat society starts at 360 kW. If 20 residents have already installed 3 kW each (60 kW), the society can claim subsidy on up to 300 kW. Societies with 167 or more houses reach the 500 kW ceiling.

What about individual flat owners? Flat owners with their own DISCOM connection and usable roof space (common in builder floors) can apply separately as residential consumers for up to ₹78,000. Their systems then reduce the society's eligible capacity.

The exact list can vary by state and DISCOM. Check the current requirement on pmsuryaghar.gov.in before applying.

Society systems are larger, so the cost per kW is usually lower than for a 3 kW home system, though DCR modules carry a premium. As an indicative range, an on-grid DCR system for a society costs about ₹50,000 to ₹65,000 per kW, inclusive of GST, before subsidy.

Illustrative model using approximate rates inclusive of GST, October 2026. Generation depends on location and shading; common-area tariffs vary by state and DISCOM. Not a quote — get a site-specific proposal.

Approximate ranges for general-category states, inclusive of GST.

For a society, the vendor decision matters more than for a single home. The system is 10 to 100 times larger, many residents share the cost, and the committee is accountable for the result. Check these before you sign:

• Portal registration for your state, and experience with GHS/RWA applications.
• DCR module proof — module and cell details matching the approved list.
• Itemised quote covering modules, inverter, structure, cabling, earthing, net-meter liaison and GST.
• Service plan in writing — cleaning schedule, monitoring and response time.
• References from other societies of a similar size.

Related reading: PM Surya Ghar Complete Guide 2026

Disclaimer: Subsidy rules are based on MNRE's PM Surya Ghar guidelines as of October 2026 and may change; always verify on pmsuryaghar.gov.in. All prices are approximate, inclusive of GST, for information only and are not Headsup B2B quotes.